Yarn control device

ABSTRACT

A yarn control holds a reserve of yarn fed at a constant tension. Means control the size of the yarn reserve under the influence of the yarn wound on a spool body with a speed in a defined relation to the machine speed. The reserve yarn is withdrawn from the yarn body either perpendicularly to the central line of the spool body for positive yarn feeding so that the yarn withdrawal will be equal to the winding of yarn onto the spool body or in axial direction in relation to the spool body for intermittent yarn consumption.

United States Patent [191 Rosen 51 Mar. 12, 1974 YARN CONTROL DEVICE[76] lnventor: Karl l. J. Rosen, Villa Flaga,

abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 20, 1967 Sweden 4374/67 [52]US. Cl 242/47.12, 66/132, 242/47.01 [51] Int. Cl B65h 51/20 [58] Fieldof Search; 242/47.l2, 47.01, 47.02, 242/4703, 47.13; 66/132 R [56]References Clted UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,189,492 2/1940 Henne 66/1322,641,913 6/1953 Alric 66/132 3,083,924 4/1963 'VOssen et a1. 66/132 X3,131,729 5/1964 Leysinger 242/47.13 X 3,225,446 12/1965 Sarfati et a1.242/4701 X 3,361,317 1/1968 ge v r s s 321 g 3,490,710 1/1970Miihlhausler ..66/132 X Primary Examiner-Stan1ey N. Gilreath AssistantExaminer-Milton S. Gerstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodhams, Blanchard&

Flynn 5 7] ABSTRACT A yarn control holds a reserve of yarn fed at aconstant tension. Means control the size of the yarn reserve under theinfluence of the yarn wound on a spool body with a speed in a definedrelation to the machine speed. The reserve yarn is withdrawn from theyarn body either perpendicularly to the central line of the spool bodyfor positive yarn feeding so that the yarn withdrawal will be equal tothe winding of yarn onto the spool body or in axial direction inrelation to the spool body for intermittent yarn consumption.

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INVENTOR BYMQAMWV M Mow - 1 YARN CONTROL DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE TORELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation of my copendingapplication Ser. No. 734 956, filed June 6, 1968 and entitled A YARNCONTROL DEVICE, now abandoned.

In the operation of a yarn feeding unit having a feed control device, orfeeder, for a textile machine, it is known to operate same in a mannertermed continuous" or positive which means that the yarn is fed unto,and withdrawn from, the feed control device at the same rate, such ratebeing normally but not necessarily constant at a predetermined value. Itis also known to operate a textile machine in a manner termedintermittenf which means that, although the rate of feed to, and rate ofwithdrawal from, the feed control device will average the same over theoperation of the machine, such rates are wholly independent of eachother as of any given moment or over short increments of time. Inprevious practice, yarn feeding devices of each type have been known andmachines have been known for operation in either of one or the othermode. It is a major purpose of this invention to provide a yarn feedcontrol device which in a simple manner can be converted from one to theother mode of operation and thereby lend corresponding flexibility to atextile machine equipped therewith and otherwise capable of both modesof operation, or to provide a single easily convertible feed controldevice for a group of textile machines of both types.

It is known to wind yarn on a cylindrical body perpendicularly to theshaft through the body and at the same time to withdraw the yarn inaxial direction, the size of the yarn layer being thereby sensed byphotoelectric devices. Such a device is particularly suitable to be usedin jacquard machines or machines with intermittent yarn feeding.However, on most jacquard machines there is knitted a smooth productwherein positive yarn feeding is needed. The present invention makes itpossible to combine these two types of feeding and by the inventionthere are obtained considerably cheaper devices for the sensing of thejust wound yarn reserve on the spool body.

A storing feeder may of course be driven centrally by means of a tape ofthe same kind as the one used on common tape feeders or any other typeof driving belt or chain. If the yarn is not withdrawn in an axialdirection from the spool body of the feeder but is wound in the samedirection as it is wound on the body, the yarn will be fed withoutpossibility of its sliding over the cylindrical body for the reason thatthe yarn is arranged thereon in windings. There is thus ensured anabsolutely positive and sliding-less yarn feeding. For special bindingsone needs of course two or more tapes each driving the cylindricalbodies at different speeds. In this manner, the feeders may be dividedinto groups each having its special yarn need.

Feeders are already available in the market in which the yarn ismanually arranged in multiple windings about two spool bodies one besidethe other, one body having for its object to separate the yarn windingsby means of grooves in the body. However, all of them have at least onegreat draw-back. If for any reason the yarn is not consumed due todeficiencies in the machine, e.g., when many needle tongues are closed,there is no practical way of uncoupling the feeder but yarn that is notconsumed will continue to be fed and the machine will malfunction.

This drawback has been completely overcome by the present invention.This has been achieved by drawing all the spool bodies at the same speedin a preselected relation to the machine being operated by them, theyarn being either unwound perpendicularly to the center line of thespool body for positive feeding so that the unwinding will be equal tothe winding onto the spool body or in axial direction in relation to thespool body for intermittent yarn consumption.

An object of the invention is to use a yarn feed control device which,in a preferred embodiment, comprises a rotating spool body on which theyarn is wound so as to form a yarn reserve and means are provided forcontrolling the quantity of the yarn reserve under influence of the yarnwound onto the spool body. The main feature of the invention is that theyarn feed control device comprises a yarn withdrawal means which isbrought from one position which renders possible an unwinding of yarnfrom the spool body only perpendicularly in relation to its axis forpositive yarn feeding to another position which renders possible anunwinding of yarn in the axis of the spool body for intermittent yarnconsumption. A clutch is arranged between the spool bodies and means fordriving the spool body, which latter are driven simultaneously or ingroups at the same speed by the machine, e.g., a knitting machine onwhich the feed control device are arranged, said clutch being adapted atpositive yarn consumption to remain engaged as long as said means forthe withdrawal of the yarn from the spool body is in such a posi tionthat the yarn withdrawal will be equal to the winding on of yarn but atintermittent yarn consumption is engaged only at a certain minimum valueof the yarn quantity stored on the spool body.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the yarn withdrawalmeans comprises an adjustable arm which in one end position standsperpendicularly to the axis of the cylindrical body and in its other endposition forms an elongation of the same. This makes it possible, aslong as the arm extends perpendicularly to the center line of the spoolbody, to let the feed control device function as a positive feederwhile, when the lever is folded down so that the yarn is withdrawn inthe longitudinal direction of the spool body, the positive yarn feederis uncoupled and the machine may intermittently use yarn as much as isactually at the moment in the feeder in question. When any existingerror has been corrected or a special knitting has been carried out, thearm is reset in perpendicular position in relation to the spool body andthe feeder will again function in a positive feeding manner.

A further object is to provide means whereby the positive yarn feedingmay quickly be changed to a jacquard feeder which always has a reserveof yarn ready to be used for the intermediate need in the differentknitting places. If a smaller quantity of yarn is knitted, the reservegrows on the storing feeder or yarn feed control device which starts areaction so that the spool body stops in a manner already known. Whenthe yarn reserve on the reserve feeder has reached a predeterminedminimum quantity, the spool body restarts to wind on yarn so that theyarn reserve will never be completely used up.

The reserve-feeder is intended to be used mainly in such cases when theyarn is not consumed at a constant speed, e.g., when knitting onjacquard machines, cotton machines, different kinds of flat knittingmachines, stocking knitting machines, warp machines and weaving looms.On many machines there is, however, manufactured a smooth product, i.e.,a product in which the yarn is used at a constant speed. In themanufacture of such a product there is always obtained the best productby means of a forced yarn feed, i.e., positive yarn feeding. The socalled tape feeder is the best known device for obtaining such apositive yarn feeding.

No other feeders offer the advantages with the reserve-feeder, namely tokeep a just wound reserve of yarn which has best tested to its strength,e.g., for the immediate need at each knitting location. It could be saidthat by means of the reserve feeder there is provided a spool whichnevers grows thinner or shorter. Any errors in the yarn are discoveredat a length of ten to fifty meters of the same before the knittinglocation and thus the machine may be stopped without any violent brakingand the risk of errors in the product is considerably reduced.

All jerks and tension shocks which are not so strong that the yarnbreaks are completely eliminated. It is of course these advantages thateliminate at least 90 percent of all the machine interruptions and theyshould be available also at a positive feeding of yarn to the machine.The present invention provides a feeder which could be used with thesame advantages for yarn storing (according to the aforegoing) withintermittent or altering yarn consumption as for a positive yarn controlwhen such is needed. In both cases there is obtained a tested and justwound reserve of yarn which is continuously renewed.

There are two basic type of apparatus for the rewinding and storing ofyarn for the immediate need at different types of textile machines. Oneof these types is characterized in that the spool body rotates when theyarn is wound on the same. The other one is characterized in that thespool body stands still and the yarn is wound on the same by aconcentrically arranged winding device in the shape of a wheel with aflange and an opening in the flange through which the yarn passes on arotating arm.

The invention will now be described with reference to the embodimentsshown in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a vertical section through a feeder or feed control devicewith a stationary spool body and a driven yarn winding arm rotatingabout said body;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same feeder;

FIG. 3 shows a vertical section through a feeder with a rotating spoolbody;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the same showing essentially the devicefor the yarn withdrawal from the spool body;

FIG. 5 shows a vertical section through a feeder with a rotating spoolbody according to FIG. 3 but using the swingable control arm of FIG. 1.

The feeder according to FIGS. 1 and 2 uses a stationary spool body 11and comprises a frame or stand 1 in which a shaft 2 is journalled inball bearings 3. The shaft has a projecting arm 4 with a bent outer endthrough which the yarn 5 runs. Mounted on the shaft 2 is a flanged wheel6 similar to a pulley. A ring 7 with abutments 8 is arranged on themounting housing of this pulley-like wheel 6. The ring 7 is pressed by aspring washer 9 against the wheel so as to be driven thereby. The wheel6 is driven by a thin belt 10 (V-belt or circular belt) with a suitablespeed. One or several units may be driven by one and the same beltexactly like the yarn feeding wheels on tape feeders. The spool body 1 1is mounted on an elongation of the shaft 2. An internally toothed ring13 is stationarily arranged in the apparatus stand 1.. A similar gearring 14 is mounted on the upper part of the spool body. Two gears orsprockets 15 run against said gear rings 13, 14, said sprockets 15 beingfixedly interconnected by means of a shaft 16 which is rotatably mountedin a second arm 17 extending from the shaft 2. The gear rings 13 and 14as well as the sprockets 15 thus comprise a conventional planetary gearsystem which is designed, in a well known manner, to provide suitabledrive ratios between the associated meshing pairs of gears so as toprevent the spool body 11 from rotating relative to the frame 1.

So as to prevent the yarn 5 at the spool body from winding ontopreviously wound yarn windings, the feeder is provided with a tootheddisk 18 which is relatively rotatably mounted on a sleeve 19 by means ofan intermediate ball bearing. Sleeve 19 is connected to shaft 2 by meansof pin 1?, which pin 19- permits the sleeve 19 and the disk 18 mountedthereon to angularly tilt relative to the axis of the shaft 2. By meansof the influence from a pressure spring 20 the toothed disk 18 tries totake an inclined position in relation to the shaft 2. As the storedquantity of yarn 21 on spool 11 diminishes, the teeth 45 on the disk 18which project outwards through slots 48 in the spool body 11 can pressthe remainder of the stored yarn 21 down on the spool body due to thepressure from the spring 20. A flange 22 on the sleeve 19 then pressesagainst a pin 23 which thereby is displaced in its guide 24 so that itcatches the abutments on the ring 7 as driven by means of the belt 10.The shaft 2 with the arms 4 and 17, the sprockets l5, and the sleeve 19with the flanges 22 and 25 are then rotated with the same speed as thedriving wheel 6.

The yarn 5 is then wound about the stationary spool body 11 just underthe highest tooth 45 of the toothed disk 18 due to rotation of arm 4around the spool 11. The teeth 45 of the disk 18 successively push theyarn 21 downwardly on the spool body 11 in such a manner that one yarnwinding presses another winding in front of itself so that the windingswill not overlap one another. When the yarn reserve 21 has reached asufficient size, i.e., a sufficeintly great number of yarn windings havebeen laid side by side on the spool, the resistance of the yarn reserveovercomes the force of the spring 20, whereupon the disk 18 moves to amore horizontal position. This causes pin 23 to disengage the abutmentson the ring 7 so that the shaft 2 with all the components mountedthereon come to a stand still. The yarn winding is then interrupted. Inthis way the device functions as a yarn storing feeder for all kinds ofmore or less continuous yarn consumption.

During certain types of knitting a positive yarn feeding is necessary.The feeder described here is provided with a device rendering itsuitable to be used also for positive yarn feeding. Displaceable in alongitudinal slot in the shaft 2 is a rod 27 (FIG. 1) provided at oneend with teeth 51. The rod is provided with a radially projecting arm 28which is engageable with the flange 25 for altering the inclination ofthe sleeve 19 and of the disk 18. .lournalled on a pin 30 in a slot inthe lower end of the shaft 2 is an arm 29 provided at one end with agear wheel having teeth 52. By means of gear 52 meshing with gear rack51 on rod 27 the arm 29 may be folded up by means of a lever 31, whichcooperates with a disk 26 on the shaft 2, so that the arm 29 pivotallyencloses an angle of 90 with the shaft 2.

For adjustment to positive feeding, the arm 31 is manually ormechanically swung in the counterclockwise direction according to FIG.1, the disk 26 with the rod 27 and the arm 28 then being moveddownwards. The rack 51 causes gear 52 to rotate whereby the arm 29 isswung upwards such that it will stand perpendicularly to the shaft 2 asindicated by dash and dot linesin FIG. 1. The downward movement of rod27 also causes arm 28 to engage the flange 25 which forces the sleeve 19with the disk 18 mounted thereon to take a somewhat more inclinedposition than the one shown in the figure. As a result of the increasinginclination the pin 23 is displaced in its guide 24 so as to engage theabutments on wheel 7 such that the winding arm 4 and shaft 2 are, forcedto rotate with the same speed as the pulley 6. The belt is driven withsuch a speed that the yarn wound on the spool body at all timescorresponds to the yarn need of the knitting machine. The expressionyarn need is here used to indicate all positive feeding of a yarn lengthwhich to some extent is smaller than the yarn length the knittingmachine would take up if the maximum speed of the yarn were notdetermined by the device for the positive feeding. With the arm 29 inthe positive feeding position illustrated by dash-dot lines in FIG. 1,the arm 29 will rotate with the shaft 2 whereby the yarn 5 will becaught by the free end of arm 29 in the way shown in the figure due tothe fact that the tension ring 32 keeps the yarn close to the spool body11. Since the yarn as it extends between the ring 32 and guide 49 isnormally under tension from the knitting machine, the engagement of thefree end of the rotating arm 29 by the yarn prevents the yarn to bepulled or drawn out from the tension ring 32 at a higher orbiting speedthan that at which the arm rotates, thereby providing for a continuousor positive feed of yarn to the knitting ma chine. When the arms 4 and29 rotate with a predetermined speed, the knitting system has nopossibility to knit a larger yarn length per machine turn than what ispermitted by the apparatus in question. For a return to a free yarnfeeding to the knitting machine the adjustment of the arm 31 is changedso as to return arm 29 to its downward axial position, in which positionthe arm 29 will not engage the yarn 5. This adjustment may be performedcentrally by means of a pattern chain or a drum without difficulty. Whenknitting measured lengths there is obtained the advantage that allproducts, e.g., sweaters and pullovers, will be of equal lengths.

Another and simpler construction of a yarn storing feeder with apossibility of positive feeding will be described in the following withreference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The feeder illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4possesses many parts or components which are structurally andfunctionally similar or identical to corresponding parts and componentsof the feeder illustrated in FIG. 1, and thus said corresponding partsof the embodiment of FIG. 3 will be referred to by the same referencenumeral as used to designate corresponding parts of the embodiment ofFIG. l but with the number added thereto. This feeder operates with arotating spool body 111. In the same way as in the previously describedfeeder the stored yarn 121 influences the inclination of the tootheddisk 118 in relation to the diametric plane of the spool body. In thiscase the disk 1 18 also controls a micro switch 133 which in turncontrols the connection between the pulley 106 driven by the knittingmachine and the spool body 1 11. Particularly, the switch 133 isdisposed within the spool 111 and is provided with a conventionaldepressible plunger 153 which is disposed so as to be positioned inabutting contact with the flange 122 of the spool 119, the plunger 153controlling in a conventional manner the opening and closing of thecontacts of the switch 133. The switch 133 is connected to an externalsource of power by means of a first electrical lead 156, with the switch133 also having a further electrical lead 154 in the form of a slipcontact, which slip contact 154 is disposed in engagement with adisk-shaped conductor 134 insulated from the spool body 111. Thedisk-shaped conductor 134 is in turn engaged by a further slip contact135 as provided on one end of a further electrical lead 155, whichelectrical lead is in turn connected to a coupling magnet 139, such as asolenoid, as mounted on the spool body 111. Coupling magnet 139 has aconventional extendable plunger 161 which is adapted to extend so as toengage the abutments of the ring 107 for permitting the spool 111 to berotatably driven by the wheel 106. The switch 133 thus controls thesupply of yarn to the spool body 111 when the yarn feeding device isbeing utilized for intermittent yarn feeding since the switch 133 coactswith the tilting disk 118 for permitting the spool body 111 to beselectively rotated whenever the number of windings 121 on the spoolbody decrease below a predetermined number, whereupon rotation of thespool body 111 by wheel 107 results in further windings being placed onthe spool body.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the yarn when withdrawn from the spool body111 passes through the eye 149 of a control arm 136, which control armis pivotally mounted on the frame 101 for swinging movement between afirst position wherein the eye 149 is substantially axially aligned andspaced from the spool body 111 (as illustrated in solid line in FIGS. 3and 4), which thus results in axial withdrawal of the yarn from thespool body so as to permit intermittent feeding of yarn, and a secondposition wherein the eye 149 is substantially radially spaced outwardlyfrom the periphery of the spool body (as illustrated in dash-dot linesin FIG. 4) so as to permit a positive or continuous withdrawal orfeeding of yarn from the spool body.

When one wishes to obtain a positive yarn feed, the arm 136 is swungthrough an angle of approximately 90 degrees into the dash-dot positionillustrated in FIG. 4. The arm 136 is provided with an eccentric 159thereon, which eccentric is rotatably supported on the pin 137 asfixedly secured to the frame 101. The rotational movement of arm 136into the positive feed position illustrated by dash-dot lines in FIG. 4causes the eccentric to coact with the plunger 162 of a switch 138,resulting in closure of the contacts of the switch 138. The switch 138is connected to a source of power by means of a first lead line 158, andis also connected to a further electrical lead line 157, which lead lineis also connected to the disk-shaped conductor 134. The closure of theswitch 138 by the swinging movement of the arm 136 into the dash-dotposition of FIG. 4 thus results in the current flow through lead line157, conductor 134 and lead line 155 whereby coupling magnet 139 isenergized so that plunger 161 engages the ring 107 for causing the spool111 to be positively rotatably driven by the wheel 106. The spool body 1I l is thus positively rotatably driven at the same speed as the pulley106 so long as the arm 136 is in the position for positive feedmg.

When the spool body 111 is being rotated, whether being used forintermittent or positive feeding, the yarn is supplied to the spool 111so as to be wound thereon directly under the toothed disk 118, the yarnbeing supplied to the spool 111 by conventional means.

FIG. illustrates therein a vertical sectional view through a feederwhich possesses a rotating spool body 111 which is substantiallyidentical to the spool body illustrated in FIG 3. Further, the yarn 121is wound onto and removed from the spool body 1 11 and the size of theyarn reserve 121 is controlled by the disk 118 in substantially the samemanner as with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, furtherdescription of the spool body and of its related components is notbelieved necessary. However, in the FIG. 5 embodiment, the yarn 105 iswithdrawn from the spool body by passing through an eyelet 149 which, inthis situation, is mounted on an arm 136' which is stationarily securedto the frame 101. Thus, when the yarn passes under the ring 132 andthrough the eyelet 149-, as illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 5, thenthe feeding device will permit intermittent yarn feeding. However, thedevice of FIG. 5 is also designed to permit positive yarn feeding andfor this purpose is provided with a control arm 129 rotatably mounted onthe end of the rod 127 in substantially the same manner as illustratedin the FIG. 1 embodiment. The arm 129 is pivotally moved upwardly intothe dotted line position for controlling the with drawal of the yarn 105when positive yarn feeding is desired. The structure of FIG. 5 thusincorporates therein the basic spool structure of FIG. 3 in conjunctionwith the control arm of FIG. I. The structure and mode of operation ofthe FIG. 5 embodiment is thus believed evident from the descriptiongiven above.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to atextile machine, comprising:

spool means; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to bewound on said spool means to form a yarn reserve thereon;

yarn control means coacting with said spool means and selectivelyoperable between a first position for restraining the withdrawalvelocity of the yarn from the spool means to a rate no greater than aselected rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool means and a secondposition for permitting yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spoolmeans at any desired rate;

said yarn control means in said first position including a restraintportion contacting the yarn at a yarn withdrawal contact point locatedradially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means, saidrestraint portion being moveable relative to the circumference of saidspool means for causing said point of yarn withdrawal to relativelyorbit the circumference of said spool means at a maximum relativevelocity substantially equal to the winding-on velocity of the yarn andthereby restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn to a rate nogreater than said selected rate at which the yarn is wound onto thespool means; and

said yarn control means in said second position inactivating saidrestraint portion so that said restraint portion does not impose anyrestraint of the yarn affecting the rate at which said yarn may bewithdrawn axially from the spool means. 2. A device according to claim1, wherein said yarn control means includes a control member mounted formovement between said first and second positions, said control memberincluding said restraint portion and when in said first position havingthe restraint portion thereof positioned radially outwardly of thecentral axis of said spool means and disposed in engagement with saidyarn at said yarn control contact point, and said means including drivemeans for causing relative rotation between said spool means and saidcontrol member when said control member is in said first positionwhereby said control member limits the rate of yarn withdrawal from saidspool means in correspondence to the relative rotation between saidspool means and said control member, said restraint portion of saidcontrol member no longer engaging said yarn at said contact point whensaid control member is in said second position.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises alever-like control member mounted for pivotal movement between saidfirst and second positions, the free end of said control member definingsaid restraint portion and being disposed for engaging the yarn at saidcontact point when said control member is in said first position.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said control member ispivotally movable through an angle of approximately when displacedbetween said first and second positions.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said control member is mountedfor pivotal movement about an axis which is substantially perpendicularto the central axis of said spool means.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said control member is mountedfor pivotal movement within a plane containing therein the longitudinalcentral axis of said spool means, and said control member when in saidfirst position extending substantially radially relative to thelongitudinal central axis of said spool means.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said control member ispivotally mounted directly adjacent one axial end of said spool meansand is pivotally swingable from said first position wherein said controlmember extends substantially radially relative to the central axis ofsaid spool means and said second position wherein said control memberextends substantially axially of said spool means.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said spool means isstationarily mounted, and means mounting said control member forrotation about the longitudinal central axis of said spool means.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein said spool means is mountedfor rotation about said central axis, and said control member isnonrotatably mounted in the circumferential direction on said spoolmeans.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the restraint portion of said controlmeans in said first position is positioned radially outwardly of thecentral axis of said spool means for permitting withdrawal of yarn fromthe spool means in only a radial direction, and the restraint portion ofsaid control means in said second position being aligned with saidcentral axis for permitting said withdrawal in only an axial direction.

11. A device according to claim 10, further including a stationary frameand said control means including a control member disposed adjacent saidspool means and pivotally mounted relative to said frame for movementbetween said first and second positions, said spool means being mountedfor rotation relative to said frame about a central axis, said restraintportion comprising guide means connected to said control member andmovable therewith between said first and second positions, and saidcontrol member when in said first position having said guide meansdisposed radially of said central axis for engaging the withdrawn yarnand for restraining the withdrawal of yarn from said spool means as saidspool means is rotated, and said guide means being disposed, at leastsubstantially, on said central axis when said control member is in saidsecond position.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said restraint portion comprises yarnguide means engaging said yarn at said contact point when in said firstposition and being located radially outwardly of said central axis andbeing mounted to orbit said central axis relative to said spool meansand permit withdrawal of yarn from said spool means in only a radialdirection, and wherein in said second position of said control meanssaid guide means is positioned, at least substantially, on said centralaxis to permit said withdrawal in only an axial direction.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein when said control means is in saidfirst position said guide means is spaced radially of said spool meansand axially between planes defined by the ends of said spool means.

14. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to atextile machine, comprising:

a spool body;

first means coacting with said spool body for causing yarn to be woundon said spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon;

yarn control means coacting with said spool body for enabling unwindingof yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at apredetermined rate which is substantially equal to the rate at whichyarn is wound on the spool body when said control means is in a firstcontrol positionand intermittently at a rate which is independent of therate at which yarn is wound on the spool body when said control means isin a second control position, said control means including a controlportion which is movable relative to said spool body between said firstand second positions, said control portion being disposed for coactingwith the withdrawn yarn when in at least the first control position; andsecond means for controlling said first means to cause yarn to be woundon the spool body at substantially the same rate at which it is beingWithdrawn when said control means is in said first position. 15. Adevice according to claim 14, wherein said secnd means includes sensingmeans coacting with the yarn reserve on said spool body for controllingthe size thereof.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said spool body is mountedfor rotation, said second means including means operatively associatedwith said first means for causing rotation of said spool body when saidcontrol means is in said second position and said sensing meansindicates a reduction in the yarn reserve on said spool body beyond apredetermined lower limit,

and said second means including means causing continuous rotation ofsaid spool body when said control means is in said first position.

17. A device according to claim 14, wherein said first means includes arotatable drive member disposed adjacent said spool body for rotationabout an axis coaxial with said spool body, and saidfirst means alsoincluding releasable coupling means coacting between said spool body andsaid drive member for permitting said spool body to be selectivelydrivingly coupled to said drive member, said coupling means beingassociated with and actuated by said second means for causing rotationof said spool body whenever said control means is in said firstposition.

18. A device according to claim 14, further including a frame and meansstationarily mounting said spool body relative to said frame, and saidfirst means including a driven yarn feeding member mounted for orbitalmovement around said spool body for winding yarn thereon.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein said first means includes arotatable drive member, and wherein said second means includesreleasable coupling means for rotatably drivingly connecting said drivenfeeding member to said rotatable drive member, said coupling meanscausing continuous engagement between said driven feeding member andsaid rotatable drive member whenever said control means is in said firstcontrol position.

20. A device according to claim 14, wherein said control means includesa lever-like control member and means mounting said control member forpivotal movement between said first and second control positionsrelative to the longitudinal central axis of said spool body, saidmounting means permitting said spool body to rotate relative to saidcontrol member, and said control member when in said first positionhaving a portion thereof disposed radially outwardly of the central axisof said spool body for engaging the yarn at a contact point spacedradially from said central axis for restricting the withdrawal of yarnfrom said spool body in response to relative rotation between said spoolbody and said control member about said longitudinal central axis.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein the free end of said controlmember is disposed at said contact point located radially outwardly ofthe axis of said spool body when said control member is in said firstposition, and the free end of said control member being spaced from saidcontact point when said control member is in said second position, saidcontrol member in said second position imposing no restraint on theaxial withdrawal of yarn from said spool body.

22. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to atextile machine, comprising:

spool means;

means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound onsaid spool means to form a yarn reserve therein;

yarn control means coacting with said spool means for restraining thewithdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means to a rate nogreater than that at which the yarn is wound onto the spool means, saidyarn control means including a restraint portion located at a firstpoint spaced radially outwardly of the central axis of said spool means,said restraint portion being disposed for contacting the yarn as it iswithdrawn from said spool means;

said control means also including means for causing said restraintportion when located at said first point to relatively orbit thecircumference of said spool means at a relative velocity substantiallyequal to the winding-on velocity of the yarn so that said restraintportion restrains the rate of withdrawal of yarn from said spool means;and

means coacting with said control means for deactivating same forenabling yarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool means at anydesired rate, said deactivating means permitting said restraint portionto be moved to a second point spaced from said first point,'saidrestraint portion when located at said second point no longerrestraining the axial withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spoolmeans.

23. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to atextile machine, comprising:

spool means;

means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be wound onsaid spool means at a first velocity to form a yarn reserve thereon;

yarn control means coacting with said spool means for controlling thewithdrawal of the yarn therefrom, said control means including a yarnguide portion for engaging and guiding yarn being withdrawn from saidspool means, said control means including mounting means coactingbetween the spool means and the guide portion for permitting relativemovement therebetween between first and second positions, said yarnguide portion when in said first position being spaced radiallyoutwardly from the centralvaxis of said spool means for contacting theyarn as it is withdrawn from the spool means, said guide portion when insaid second position being spaced from said first position so as toexert no circumferential restraint on the yarn withdrawn from the spoolmeans; and

means for causing relative rotation between said guide portion and saidspool means for effecting relative orbiting of said guide portion aboutsaid central axial when said guide portion is in said first position ata second velocity at least substantially equal to the first velocity.

24. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to atextile machine, comprising:

a spool body;

first means coacting with said spool body for causing yarn to be woundon said spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon;

yarn control means coacting with said spool body for enabling unwindingof yarn from said spool body substantially continuously at apredetermined rate which is substantially equal to the rate at which theyarn is wound on the spool body, said yarn control means including acontrol portion disposed in a first position wherein said controlportion is adapted to engage the yarn as withdrawn from said spool body,said control portion when in said first position being disposed radiallyoutwardly from the central longitudinal axis of said spool body, andmounting means coacting between said control portion and said spool bodyfor permitting relative rotation therebetween about said central axis;second means operatively interconnected between said yarn control meansand said first means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool body atsubstantially the same rate at which it is being withdrawn from saidspool body when said control portion is in said first location; andthird means associated with said control means for permittingdeactivation of same for enabling yarn to be axially withdrawn from saidspool body intermittently at a rate which is independent of the rate atwhich yarn is wound on the spool body, said third means including meanspermitting said control portion to be moved relative to said spool bodyfrom said first portion to a second position wherein said controlportion exerts no restraint on the yarn controlling the axial withdrawalrate thereof. 25. In combination with a textile machine having meansassociated therewith for withdrawing yarn from a supply source, a yarncontrol device for controlling the feeding of yarn from the source tothe textile machine, said yarn control device including a spool body andfirst means coacting with the spool body for causing yarn to be wound onthe spool body to form a yarn reserve thereon, the yarn from said supplysource being wound onto said spool body adjacent one axial end of saidyarn reserve, and the yarn being withdrawn from said spool body adjacentthe other axial end of said yarn reserve for supply to said textilemachine, comprising the improvement wherein said yarn control deviceincludes:

yarn control means operatively associated with said spool body forenabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantiallycontinuously at a rate which is no greater than the rate at which yarnis wound on the spool body, said control means including restrainingmeans disposed in a location spaced radially outwardly from the centralaxis of said spool body for imposing a restraining force on the yarnwithdrawn from said spool body so that the withdrawal rate of yarn is nogreater than the rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool body;

second means coacting with said first means for causing yarn to be woundon said spool body when said restraining means is disposed in saidlocation; and

means for deactivating said restraining means for enabling yarn to bewithdrawn from said spool body at whatever rate desired as determined bythe operation of the textile machine.

26. The combination according to claim 25 wherein the deactivating meansenables said restraining means to be moved to a second location which isspaced from said first-mentioned location wherein the restraining 'meansno longer restricts the axial withdrawal of yarn from the spool body bythe textile machine.

27. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to atextile machine, comprising:

spool means;

means coacting with said spool means for causing restraint portion beingmoveable relative to the circumference of said spool means, saidrestraint portion being moveable relative to the circumference of saidspool means for causing said point of yarn withdrawal to relativelyorbit the circumference of said spool means at a maximum relativevelocity corresponding to said preselected rate; and

said yarn control means in said second position inactivating saidrestraint portion so that said restraint portion does not impose anyrestraint of the yarn effecting the rate at which said yarn may bewithdrawn from the spool means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 795 34 Dated March 12 914 lnventor(s) Karl I. J. Rosen It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that saidLettersvPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title Page, left hand column, line [76];

change illa Flaga" to Villa Haga'-.

Col. 8, line 20 delete "yarn control".

line 21; before "means" (first occurrence) insert I yarn control-.

Col. 11, line 3; change "therein" to thereon---.

line 54; change "axial" to -axis-.

Col. 14, line 1; "delete in its entirety.

line 2; delete "cumference of said spool means, said".

Signed and sealed this 17th day of September 1974.

SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attest ing Officer 7 Commissionerof Patents rORM pomso (169) uscoMM-Dc BO376-P69 .5, GOVERNMEN'LFRINTINGOFFICE 2 l9, $66-3l.

1. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding of yarn to atextile machine, comprising: spool means; means coacting with said spoolmeans for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means to form a yarnreserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with said spool means andselectively operable between a first position for restraining thewithdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means to a rate nogreater than a selected rate at which the yarn is wound on the spoolmeans and a second position for permitting yarn to be axially withdrawnfrom said spool means at any desired rate; said yarn control means insaid first position including a restraint portion contacting the yarn ata yarn withdrawal contact point located radially outwardly of thecentral axis of said spool means, said restraint portion being moveablerelative to the circumference of said spool means for causing said pointof yarn withdrawal to relatively orbit the circumference of said spoolmeans at a maximum relative velocity substantially equal to thewinding-on velocity of the yarn and thereby restraining the withdrawalvelocity of the yarn to a rate no greater than said selected rate atwhich the yarn is wound onto the spool means; and said yarn controlmeans in said second position inactivating said restraint portion sothat said restraint portion does not impose any restraint of the yarnaffecting the rate at which said yarn may be withdrawn axially from thespool means.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said yarn controlmeans includes a control member mounted for movement between said firstand second positions, said control member including said restraintportion and when in said first position having the restraint portionthereof positioned radially outwardly of the central axis of said spoolmeans and disposed in engagement with said yarn at said yarn controlcontact point, and said means including drive means for causing relativerotation between said spool means and said control member when saidcontrol member is in said first position whereby said control memberlimits the rate of yarn withdrawal from said spool means incorrespondence to the relative rotation between said spool means andsaid control member, said restraint portion of said control member nolonger engaging said yarn at said contact point when said control memberis in said second position.
 3. A device according to claim 1, whereinsaid control means comprises a lever-like control member mounted forpivotal movement between said first and second positions, the free endof said control member defining said restraint portion and beingdisposed for engaging the yarn at said contact point when said controlmember is in said first position.
 4. A device according to claim 3,wherein said control member is pivotally movable through an angle ofapproximately 90* when displaced between said first and secondpositions.
 5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said control memberis mounted for pivotal movement about an axis which is substantiallyperpendicular to the central axis of said spool means.
 6. A deviceaccording to claim 5, wherein said control member is mounted for pivotalmovement within a plane containing therein the longitudinal central axisof said spool means, and said control member when in said first positionextending substantially radially relative tO the longitudinal centralaxis of said spool means.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein saidcontrol member is pivotally mounted directly adjacent one axial end ofsaid spool means and is pivotally swingable from said first positionwherein said control member extends substantially radially relative tothe central axis of said spool means and said second position whereinsaid control member extends substantially axially of said spool means.8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said spool means isstationarily mounted, and means mounting said control member forrotation about the longitudinal central axis of said spool means.
 9. Adevice according to claim 7, wherein said spool means is mounted forrotation about said central axis, and said control member isnonrotatably mounted in the circumferential direction on said spoolmeans.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the restraint portion of saidcontrol means in said first position is positioned radially outwardly ofthe central axis of said spool means for permitting withdrawal of yarnfrom the spool means in only a radial direction, and the restraintportion of said control means in said second position being aligned withsaid central axis for permitting said withdrawal in only an axialdirection.
 11. A device according to claim 10, further including astationary frame and said control means including a control memberdisposed adjacent said spool means and pivotally mounted relative tosaid frame for movement between said first and second positions, saidspool means being mounted for rotation relative to said frame about acentral axis, said restraint portion comprising guide means connected tosaid control member and movable therewith between said first and secondpositions, and said control member when in said first position havingsaid guide means disposed radially of said central axis for engaging thewithdrawn yarn and for restraining the withdrawal of yarn from saidspool means as said spool means is rotated, and said guide means beingdisposed, at least substantially, on said central axis when said controlmember is in said second position.
 12. The device of claim 1, whereinsaid restraint portion comprises yarn guide means engaging said yarn atsaid contact point when in said first position and being locatedradially outwardly of said central axis and being mounted to orbit saidcentral axis relative to said spool means and permit withdrawal of yarnfrom said spool means in only a radial direction, and wherein in saidsecond position of said control means said guide means is positioned, atleast substantially, on said central axis to permit said withdrawal inonly an axial direction.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein when saidcontrol means is in said first position said guide means is spacedradially of said spool means and axially between planes defined by theends of said spool means.
 14. A yarn control device for controlling thefeeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: a spool body; firstmeans coacting with said spool body for causing yarn to be wound on saidspool body to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coactingwith said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool bodysubstantially continuously at a predetermined rate which issubstantially equal to the rate at which yarn is wound on the spool bodywhen said control means is in a first control position andintermittently at a rate which is independent of the rate at which yarnis wound on the spool body when said control means is in a secondcontrol position, said control means including a control portion whichis movable relative to said spool body between said first and secondpositions, said control portion being disposed for coacting with thewithdrawn yarn when in at least the first control position; and secondmeans for controlling said first means to cause yarn to be wound on thespool body at substantially the same rate at which it is being withdrawnwhen said cOntrol means is in said first position.
 15. A deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein said second means includes sensing meanscoacting with the yarn reserve on said spool body for controlling thesize thereof.
 16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said spoolbody is mounted for rotation, said second means including meansoperatively associated with said first means for causing rotation ofsaid spool body when said control means is in said second position andsaid sensing means indicates a reduction in the yarn reserve on saidspool body beyond a predetermined lower limit, and said second meansincluding means causing continuous rotation of said spool body when saidcontrol means is in said first position.
 17. A device according to claim14, wherein said first means includes a rotatable drive member disposedadjacent said spool body for rotation about an axis coaxial with saidspool body, and said first means also including releasable couplingmeans coacting between said spool body and said drive member forpermitting said spool body to be selectively drivingly coupled to saiddrive member, said coupling means being associated with and actuated bysaid second means for causing rotation of said spool body whenever saidcontrol means is in said first position.
 18. A device according to claim14, further including a frame and means stationarily mounting said spoolbody relative to said frame, and said first means including a drivenyarn feeding member mounted for orbital movement around said spool bodyfor winding yarn thereon.
 19. A device according to claim 18, whereinsaid first means includes a rotatable drive member, and wherein saidsecond means includes releasable coupling means for rotatably drivinglyconnecting said driven feeding member to said rotatable drive member,said coupling means causing continuous engagement between said drivenfeeding member and said rotatable drive member whenever said controlmeans is in said first control position.
 20. A device according to claim14, wherein said control means includes a lever-like control member andmeans mounting said control member for pivotal movement between saidfirst and second control positions relative to the longitudinal centralaxis of said spool body, said mounting means permitting said spool bodyto rotate relative to said control member, and said control member whenin said first position having a portion thereof disposed radiallyoutwardly of the central axis of said spool body for engaging the yarnat a contact point spaced radially from said central axis forrestricting the withdrawal of yarn from said spool body in response torelative rotation between said spool body and said control member aboutsaid longitudinal central axis.
 21. A device according to claim 20,wherein the free end of said control member is disposed at said contactpoint located radially outwardly of the axis of said spool body whensaid control member is in said first position, and the free end of saidcontrol member being spaced from said contact point when said controlmember is in said second position, said control member in said secondposition imposing no restraint on the axial withdrawal of yarn from saidspool body.
 22. A yarn control device for controlling the feeding ofyarn to a textile machine, comprising: spool means; means coacting withsaid spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool means toform a yarn reserve therein; yarn control means coacting with said spoolmeans for restraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spoolmeans to a rate no greater than that at which the yarn is wound onto thespool means, said yarn control means including a restraint portionlocated at a first point spaced radially outwardly of the central axisof said spool means, said restraint portion being disposed forcontacting the yarn as it is withdrawn from said spool means; saidcontrol means also including means for causing said restraint portionwhen located at Said first point to relatively orbit the circumferenceof said spool means at a relative velocity substantially equal to thewinding-on velocity of the yarn so that said restraint portion restrainsthe rate of withdrawal of yarn from said spool means; and means coactingwith said control means for deactivating same for enabling yarn to beaxially withdrawn from said spool means at any desired rate, saiddeactivating means permitting said restraint portion to be moved to asecond point spaced from said first point, said restraint portion whenlocated at said second point no longer restraining the axial withdrawalvelocity of the yarn from the spool means.
 23. A yarn control device forcontrolling the feeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: spoolmeans; means coacting with said spool means for causing yarn to be woundon said spool means at a first velocity to form a yarn reserve thereon;yarn control means coacting with said spool means for controlling thewithdrawal of the yarn therefrom, said control means including a yarnguide portion for engaging and guiding yarn being withdrawn from saidspool means, said control means including mounting means coactingbetween the spool means and the guide portion for permitting relativemovement therebetween between first and second positions, said yarnguide portion when in said first position being spaced radiallyoutwardly from the central axis of said spool means for contacting theyarn as it is withdrawn from the spool means, said guide portion when insaid second position being spaced from said first position so as toexert no circumferential restraint on the yarn withdrawn from the spoolmeans; and means for causing relative rotation between said guideportion and said spool means for effecting relative orbiting of saidguide portion about said central axial when said guide portion is insaid first position at a second velocity at least substantially equal tothe first velocity.
 24. A yarn control device for controlling thefeeding of yarn to a textile machine, comprising: a spool body; firstmeans coacting with said spool body for causing yarn to be wound on saidspool body to form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coactingwith said spool body for enabling unwinding of yarn from said spool bodysubstantially continuously at a predetermined rate which issubstantially equal to the rate at which the yarn is wound on the spoolbody, said yarn control means including a control portion disposed in afirst position wherein said control portion is adapted to engage theyarn as withdrawn from said spool body, said control portion when insaid first position being disposed radially outwardly from the centrallongitudinal axis of said spool body, and mounting means coactingbetween said control portion and said spool body for permitting relativerotation therebetween about said central axis; second means operativelyinterconnected between said yarn control means and said first means forcausing yarn to be wound on said spool body at substantially the samerate at which it is being withdrawn from said spool body when saidcontrol portion is in said first location; and third means associatedwith said control means for permitting deactivation of same for enablingyarn to be axially withdrawn from said spool body intermittently at arate which is independent of the rate at which yarn is wound on thespool body, said third means including means permitting said controlportion to be moved relative to said spool body from said first portionto a second position wherein said control portion exerts no restraint onthe yarn controlling the axial withdrawal rate thereof.
 25. Incombination with a textile machine having means associated therewith forwithdrawing yarn from a supply source, a yarn control device forcontrolling the feeding of yarn from the source to the textile machine,said yarn control device including a spool body and first means coactingwith the spool body for causing yarn to be wound on the spool body toform a yarn reserve thereon, the yarn from said supply source beingwound onto said spool body adjacent one axial end of said yarn reserve,and the yarn being withdrawn from said spool body adjacent the otheraxial end of said yarn reserve for supply to said textile machine,comprising the improvement wherein said yarn control device includes:yarn control means operatively associated with said spool body forenabling unwinding of yarn from said spool body substantiallycontinuously at a rate which is no greater than the rate at which yarnis wound on the spool body, said control means including restrainingmeans disposed in a location spaced radially outwardly from the centralaxis of said spool body for imposing a restraining force on the yarnwithdrawn from said spool body so that the withdrawal rate of yarn is nogreater than the rate at which the yarn is wound on the spool body;second means coacting with said first means for causing yarn to be woundon said spool body when said restraining means is disposed in saidlocation; and means for deactivating said restraining means for enablingyarn to be withdrawn from said spool body at whatever rate desired asdetermined by the operation of the textile machine.
 26. The combinationaccording to claim 25 wherein the deactivating means enables saidrestraining means to be moved to a second location which is spaced fromsaid first-mentioned location wherein the restraining means no longerrestricts the axial withdrawal of yarn from the spool body by thetextile machine.
 27. A yarn control device for controlling the feedingof yarn to a textile machine, comprising: spool means; means coactingwith said spool means for causing yarn to be wound on said spool meansto form a yarn reserve thereon; yarn control means coacting with saidspool means and selectively operable between a first position forrestraining the withdrawal velocity of the yarn from the spool means toa preselected rate and a second position for permitting yarn to beaxially withdrawn from said spool means at any desired rate; said yarncontrol means in said first position including a restraint portioncontacting the yarn at a yarn withdrawal contact point located radiallyoutwardly of the central axis of said spool means, said restraintportion being moveable relative to the circumference of said spoolmeans, said restraint portion being moveable relative to thecircumference of said spool means for causing said point of yarnwithdrawal to relatively orbit the circumference of said spool means ata maximum relative velocity corresponding to said preselected rate; andsaid yarn control means in said second position inactivating saidrestraint portion so that said restraint portion does not impose anyrestraint of the yarn effecting the rate at which said yarn may bewithdrawn from the spool means.